Vatican City is the smallest sovereign State in the world both by population and by territorial extension (0.44 km²) and the third by population density. As a form of government, it is a theocracy, ruled by the Pope.
Vatican City, a city-state in the center of Rome, is the heart of the Roman Catholic Church too. In addition to being the seat of the Pontiff, it houses a collection of extraordinary works of art and architecture kept in its museums.
Vatican City has a population of 453 inhabitants, of whom 246 are citizens: Vatican citizens, including non-residents in the State, are a total of 618. Vatican City coins its own currency, but, due to the customs and monetary union with Italy, the currency is the euro. The Vatican metal coins bear the coat of arms of the reigning Pope.
In Vatican city history, the State of the Church, which for about a millennium had extended itself over a large part of central Italy, constituting the territorial basis of the temporal power of the Popes, was militarily annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.
The territory left to the Pontiff shrunk only to the circle of the Leonine walls. After the capture of Rome in 1870 by the Italian army, the city has proclaimed the capital of Italy, and the temporal power of the Popes was suppressed.
The Lateran Treaty of 1929 is the constitutive act of the Vatican City State, with which Italy recognizes the Pope’s full sovereignty and independence over the sole and exclusive part of the territory of the city of Rome included in the circle of the Leonine walls, as well as than on St. Peter’s Square.
This territory, although extremely small, is internationally recognized and thus ensures the sovereign independence of the Holy See from any other political power. The financial convention also provided the means for the economic autonomy of the new State formation.
About museums and monuments to visit, majestic and imposing is St. Peter’s Square which welcomes its visitors to the Vatican City. It is the real beating heart of this corner of Rome and is one of those places that should be seen at least once in a lifetime.
St. Peter’s Square is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture. The square is made up of two distinct parts for a total area of over 47,000 square meters. and can host as many as 300,000 people together. The two spaces are joined together through four colonnades made up of 284 columns and 88 pillars which in turn support an architrave with 96 marble statues.
The history of what is certainly one of the most famous squares in Rome and Italy is the result of Bernini’s project who built it between 1656 and 1667.
Once you have crossed the large square, it is time to enter what is the most important temple of Christianity: St. Peter’s Basilica. The construction of the current church began in 1506 during the pontificate of Julius II and ended in 1626 under Pope Urban VIII.
Previously, however, there was another church dating back to the 4th century that was built by the Roman emperor Constantine I. The area was that of the circus of Nero and a nearby necropolis where, according to tradition, St. Peter was buried after his crucifixion. Today St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most fascinating places in Rome and a true treasure trove of artistic masterpieces.
There are so many things to see inside the church and among these are certainly worth mentioning: Michelangelo’s Pietà ; the Monument to Clement XIII by Antonio Canova; the Tomb of Innocenzo VIII by Pollaiolo; the Canopy of the Altar: the statue of St. Peter.
A good idea to really appreciate the wonders kept inside the church is to participate in a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Admission to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but you will most likely have to queue up a lot to enter. It is best to arrive early in the morning and prefer midweek days if possible.
The dome of St. Peter’s is another of the places that absolutely must be included among what to see in Vatican City. It is, in fact, one of the symbols of the city of Rome. The Dome of St. Peter is one of the most impressive masonry roofs ever built: it has an internal diameter of about 42 meters and brings the overall height of the Basilica, from the base to the top, to over 130 meters.
The original design of the dome is by Michelangelo who worked on it until the year of his death in 1564. From inside the Basilica, you can admire the dome and its frescoes from below, but it is also possible to climb to the top to enjoy one of the best views of the Eternal City.
There are two possibilities to reach the dome: go up on foot (about 550 steps) or take the lift for a while and take the last steps on foot (about 320).
The Vatican Museums are among the most important museums in the world and are certainly worth a visit during a holiday in Rome: The complex is made up of numerous museums, galleries, and halls, and to visit it entirely you need at least three or four hours of time. Inside the Vatican Museums, founded by Pope Julius II in 1506, are collections that over the centuries were collected and preserved by various Popes.
There are so many things to see inside: they range from the mummies of ancient Egypt to the works of art by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Perugino, and Caravaggio, passing through an interesting collection of carriages and cars. Among the most important works that you can admire point out, for example, the Statue of the Nile River; the School of Athens by Raffaello Sanzio; the Deposition by Caravaggio; the Stefaneschi Polyptych by Giotto; San Gerolamo by Leonardo da Vinci; the Transfiguration by Raphael; the spiral staircase by Momo; the Gallery of Geographical Maps.
One of the reasons why it is certainly worth visiting the Vatican Museums is that the entrance ticket also includes the possibility of entering the famous Sistine Chapel. The place where the Conclave is held, that is, the election of the new Pope, is very famous for its wonderful frescoes, among which Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment stands out.
Things to do at Vatican City guide 2022
It is interesting to know that the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel are not only the work of Michelangelo, but numerous other artists contributed to its beauty such as Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio, and Domenico Ghirlandaio.
Finally, among the things to see in the Vatican certainly cannot miss the Vatican Gardens. These green spaces occupy more than half of the surface of the entire Vatican City and were built as a place of recreation and tranquility for the Pope.
The care of this place is entrusted to professional gardeners who meticulously turn each view into a real work of art. Among rose gardens, streams, waterfalls, and ponds, you will be amazed by the harmony of nature and you can feel the same majesty that you felt when crossing the threshold of St. Peter’s Basilica. It is a very special place and decidedly different from the usual idea that one has about Vatican City. It is a real hidden corner of the smallest State in the world.